62 “COME DUCK SHOOTING WITH ME” 
towards the shore and Jimmy in the boat was picking 
them up. 
‘‘How many ducks did you shoot?”’ called a voice. 
“Three geese and eighteen ducks; I have two of the 
geese here,’’ I answered. 
“T have picked up twelve ducks now,”’ called the 
voice, ‘‘and the two ‘cans’ you just shot makes four- 
teen.”’ 
‘‘Bully for you,” I shouted; ‘‘that’s more than I ex- 
pected; row in and give me my slicker that’s in the boat, 
this rain is wet.” 
Jimmy rowed in to the sink box; he was as wet as a 
drowned rat, but he didn’t seem to mind a little thing 
like that. 
‘‘Why didn’t you shoot this morning?”’ he asked. 
‘“‘Oh, I don’t know,” I answered; “‘didn’t just exactly 
feel like it, had more fun watching the birds and 
wondering what they would do next.” 
‘It’s all right to watch shore birds and gulls and the 
like of that,’’ said Jimmy ‘‘but there’s no need to watch 
ducks when you know what they will do next.” 
‘‘And what will they do next?’ I asked just to tease 
him. 
“They'll fly away mighty damned quick, 
Jimmy. 
Jimmy was right, yet I was glad I had had my 
morning. 
” 
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